Content item receiver module and method

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a content item receiver module and method. The content item receiver module is operative for a content item delivery system, configured to operate in a first and second mode: the first mode operative to drive a display apparatus to display a received content item; the second mode operative for a specified time window to display on a display apparatus a sequence of linked content items in the specified time window, and to respond to a prompt signal to initiate a display option.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/395,645 filed Sep. 28, 2012, which claims priority toPCT/GB2010/051462 filed Sep. 3, 2010, which claims priority to UnitedKingdom Application Serial Nos. 1012757.9 filed Jul. 29, 2010, 1012756.1filed Sep. 29, 2010, 1012755.3 filed Jul. 29, 2010, and 1012754.6 filedJul. 29, 2010, each of which in turn claims priority to United KingdomApplication Serial Nos. 0915885.8 filed Sep. 10, 2009, 0915886.6 filedSep. 10, 2009, 0915887.4 filed Sep. 10, 2009, and are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a content item receiver module andmethod. In particular, but not exclusively, to a content item receivermodule and method for a content item delivery system.

BACKGROUND

The distribution of media content such as music and video now takesplace over various communications channels. For example, music and videomay be broadcast over terrestrial VHF and UHF networks to be received bytelevision sets, from satellite to ground stations or domestic satellitereceivers and over cable networks. Such broadcast services generallycomprise one or more communication channels, each channel comprising aparticular carrier frequency onto which is modulated a signalrepresentative of the content to be transmitted over the channel.Content, typically television programs, films or music shows, aretransmitted over a particular channel or channels at particular times inaccordance with a program schedule. In this regard, broadcast servicescomprise “appointments to view” whereby a viewer has to tune into achannel at the time content of interest to the viewer is transmitted onthat channel.

More recently, interactive television has become available whereby aviewer, prompted by a message displayed on the television, may sendcontrol signals or messages to the broadcaster or third party associatedwith the broadcaster and displayed message to initiate certain activity.For example, to initiate selection of a program to view or receiveinformation about a program.

Broadcast services are widely available using digital communicationstechniques. Digital broadcast service providers often provide data topopulate a menu or Electronic Program Guide (EPG) of, for example, aset-top box or television with suitable EPG software, on one of theirchannels. A typical EPG is based on a grid system and displays programsand channels in transverse directions. For example, the programs for aparticular channel may be displayed in a horizontal direction withdifferent channels set out in a vertical direction. A viewer may use aremote control having “UP/DOWN” and “LEFT/RIGHT” buttons and use thesebuttons to move a cursor about the display to highlight programs. Aviewer may select a highlighted program by actuating a “SELECT” buttonwhich tunes the receiver to the particular channel. Optionally, a viewermay highlight a program which is to be broadcast in the future andselection of that program may invoke a “record” or “reminder” option.

Television viewers are generally familiar with EPGs set out in a gridsystem and navigable using remote control devices having relativelysimple buttons such as “UP/DOWN” and “LEFT/RIGHT” buttons and “SELECT”buttons.

Content is also available over computer networks such as the Internet.Content is usually accessed over the Internet using a personal computersuch as a desktop or laptop computer. The location of content on anetwork such as the Internet is defined by a network address known as aUniform Resource Locator (URL). A particular content item can beaddressed and downloaded to the computer addressing the content forlater presentation or may be “streamed” whereby the computer presentsthe content as it is provided over the network. The user interface for acomputer is generally a pointing device such as a “mouse”, and computerusers are familiar with a user interface which allows for the pointingdevice to be moved on to an icon, text (such as an Internet “link”) orother graphic displayed on a display and selecting that graphic toinvoke a function associated with the graphic, for example accessingcontent over the Internet.

Many communications networks, including those making up at least a partof the Internet, are configured to transmit large amounts of data andthese are sometime termed “broadband” networks. For the purpose of thisdescription the term “broadband network” is used to refer to acommunications network or part thereof which is capable of transmittingcontent items such as video and music in an acceptable timeframe. Suchnetworks may also support music or video streaming. The data bandwidthcapability of a consumer connection to such a network is typically atleast 2 MBit/s.

Many computer users have computers which are part of a local areanetwork (LAN), for example in their workplace and increasingly at homein their domestic residence. Users often keep content items on memorystorage coupled to their LAN and accessed through their computers.

A consequence of users having a plurality of different sources ofinformation and becoming used to being able to choose what they wish toaccess or view is that users have become impatient when presented withinformation they do not wish to view, for example advertisements. In thebroadcast environment many channels have commercial breaks in theirprogramming Such commercial breaks may be paid for advertising bycompanies wishing to promote their products or services, or maybe by thebroadcaster themselves promoting upcoming services or programmes. Usersmay wish to avoid such unwanted viewing, but in live broadcast musteither switch channels and hope to go to a channel without a currentcommercial break or go and do something else. Conversely, broadcasters(on behalf of their advertisers or themselves) wish to retain the viewerthrough the commercial break.

Furthermore, users are used to being able to easily obtain moreinformation about something they are viewing should they wish to.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention were devised with theforegoing in mind.

Viewed from a first aspect there is provided a content item receivermodule operative for a content item delivery system, configured tooperate in a first and second mode in which in the first mode it isoperative to drive a display apparatus to display a received contentitem; and in the second mode it is operative for a specified time windowto display on a display apparatus a sequence of linked content items inthe specified time window, each of the linked content items having aduration less than the specified time window, and it is operative torespond to a prompt signal to initiate a display option.

Viewed from a second aspect there is provided a method of operating acontent item receiver, the method comprising in a first mode driving adisplay apparatus to display a received content item and in a secondmode driving for a specified time window the display apparatus todisplay a sequence of linked content items in the specified time window,each of the linked content items having a duration less than thespecified time window, and to respond to a prompt signal to initiate adisplay option.

The content item receiver module may be further configured to operate inthe second mode to respond to the prompt signal to initiate display onthe display apparatus of a long form content item associated with one ormore linked content items of the sequence the long form content itemhaving a greater duration than at least one of the associated linkedcontent items. In this way, a user may go to a content item whichprovides more detailed information about the subject.

Optionally, the content item receiver module may be further configuredto operate in the second mode to respond to the prompt signal toinitiate display on the display apparatus of a menu of one or moredisplay options, the menu comprising at least one of a content itemidentifier corresponding to a content item and a further display option;and initiate display on the display apparatus of the content item or thefurther display option responsive to user selection thereof. In thisway, a user may select from a plurality of options what they would liketo have information about.

The further display option may comprise at least one long form contentitem identifier corresponding to a long form content item and/or a yetfurther display option in order to provide the user with a furtherinformation or options. In this way, a user may investigate and continueinto more detail regarding a content item of interest to them. The yetfurther display option may include a further long form content itemidentifier selectable to display a further long form content item,thereby providing a user with new or more detailed information

The long form content item and/or the further long form content item mayinclude subject-matter related to the subject-matter of the associatedone or more linked content items of said sequence of linked contentitems, thereby providing a user with an opportunity to obtain moreinformation about the content items that have been displayed to them.

The included subject-matter may be related to the subject-matter of alinked content item displayed on the display apparatus when the promptsignal is initiated. Thus, a user may go direct from a content item theyare viewing to content item having more detailed information about thepreviously viewed content item. Typically, the further long form contentitem includes subject-matter related to the subject matter of the longform content item.

Suitably, the one or more display options and/or the further displayoption is associated with one or more linked content items of thesequence of linked content items thereby presenting the user with theopportunity to view content having more information about what was to bedisplayed in the specified time window.

Typically, the content item receiver module may be further configured toinitiate display on the display apparatus of a first linked content itemof the sequence of linked content items responsive to initiation of thespecified time window, for example where the specified time window isfor a commercial break and the linked content items comprise perspectivethirty second advertisements.

The content item receiver module may be further configured to beresponsive to a user generated prompt signal to initiate display of theone or more display options thereby providing the user with theopportunity to control whether or not they are presented with displayoptions. Optionally, the content item receiver module may be furtherconfigured to be responsive to a prompt signal generated automaticallyresponsive to initiation of said specified time window such that thedisplay options are automatically invoked.

Typically, the display of the one or more display options aresuperimposed over a currently displayed content item. In particular,they may be partially transparently superimposed over the displayoptions.

Suitably, respective ones of the display options comprise an imagerepresentative of a respective display option thereby providing a futurerepresentation to the user regarding what further information or displayoptions may be provided.

A selected long form or further long form content item may be truncatedin order to finish display of the selected long form or further longform content item coincident with a finish of the specified time window.In this way, the long form or further long form content items may beforced to fit into the specified time window.

Optionally, a viewer may be prompted to select an option to continuedisplay of a selected long form or further long form content item beyonda finish of the specified time window.

A long form content item and/or further long form content item may beretrieved from a local store. Such a configuration reduces bandwidthrequirements and avoids delaying retrieval due to bandwidth constraintsthereby providing the possibility of more quickly supplying such longform or further long form content items. Optionally or additionallynetwork location information may be retrieved from a local store for thelong form content item or the further long form content. Typically, thenetwork location information comprises a uniform resource locator (url).

Optionally or additionally the long form content item and/or saidfurther long form content item may be requested and retrieved from asource located on a network and the long form content item and/or thefurther long form content item stored local to said content itemreceiver module.

Optionally or additionally, network location information may berequested and retrieved from a source located on a network and storedlocal to the content item receiver module.

One or more embodiments of the present invention are described furtherhereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates components and communication links of asystem for providing access to content from a plurality of sources inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the system of FIG. 1 in more detail;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a media display management server andcomponents thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a content receiver and componentsthereof in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an advertisement break module of acontent receiver;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates replacement advertisement content itemdata sets stored in a replacement advertisement database;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a playlist descriptor;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a conventional broadcast transportstream;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a modified broadcast transport stream;

FIG. 10 illustrates, in schematic form, an exploded view of an MPEG 2transport packet stream;

FIG. 11 illustrates a sequence diagram showing steps for insertion ofalternative video content, e.g. replacement advertisement content items,into a broadcast stream received at a content receiver to replacecontent items in the stream with replacement content items; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a screenshot of a screen displayed when areplacement advertisement content item menu is invoked by a contentreceiver in response to instructions input thereto by a user.

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the inventionfollows with reference to the figures provided.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates components and communication links of asystem 100 for providing access from one or more content receivers tocontent from a plurality of sources. Content may comprise one or morecontent items, and a content item may be a part or whole of programmingcontent (e.g. a television program, a film, a video clip, anadvertisement, and a system information message).

The system 100 comprises a plurality of content sources 102 arranged toprovide content for reception by a plurality of content receivers 108(e.g. set-top boxes) and subsequent viewing of the content on a displayassociated with the respective receivers 108 over at least one of acommunications network 104 (such as: a wide area network (WAN), e.g. theInternet; local area networks (LAN); or a combination of two or moresuch networks) and a broadcast video distribution network 106 (e.g. aterrestrial cable IPTV or satellite television broadcast system). Thesystem 100 also comprises a media display management server (MDMS) 110which controls content configuration and distribution of content to thecontent receivers 108 and provides a content search and/or discoveryand/or navigation module and other services. The MDMS 110 provides acontent management environment responsible for the presentation of thecontent accessed by content receivers 108 (or users thereof) registeredwith the MDMS 110, giving users a consistent, quality controlled, userinterface experience across multiple content types such as broadcast TV,interactive content, and Internet video content.

A media display management module (not shown) is provided in the contentreceivers 108 for managing the content search, discovery, navigation andpresentation on the content receivers 108. The media display managementmodule is configured to communicate with the MDMS 110 over thecommunications network 104.

The MDMS 110 and the media display management module configure contentfor display based upon a set of parameters specified by one or more of:a content provider; a user of a content receiver 108; a content receiver108 manufacturer; and a service provider. The parameters may be embeddedas operating parameters of a content receiver 108.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the features of FIG. 1 in more detailand provides an overview of the functional elements and modules of theMDMS 110. The features illustrated in FIG. 2 which correspond tofeatures already described in relation to FIG. 1 are denoted by likereference numerals.

In the illustrated embodiment, the MDMS 110 offers a client-serverrelationship with content receivers 108 comprising TV devices (such asset-top boxes), or as a web service via device Application ProgrammingInterfaces (APIs) to TV devices and other systems. Content receivers 108comprising TV devices that connect to the MDMS 110 may have embedded inthem a content receiver specific client (e.g. media display managementmodule) that enables at least a portion of platform services of the MDMS110 and content owner and original equipment manufacturer (OEM)branding, i.e. branding for the content receiver, manufacturer orsupplier, to be maintained uniformly across device types. Once ported,code changes may not need to be made to the device software to addadditional content, features and branding.

For content receivers 108 that connect to the MDMS 110 and which do nothave embedded client software, the platform services and content can beenabled via direct services application program interfaces and a TVdevice user interface. In these instances, a sub-set of the fullplatform functionality may be used, and content owner and OEM configuredbranding and services may not be fully-reflected in the interfacedisplayed to the user because of the limitations thereof. However,certain minimal elements may be required to be supported as a conditionof utilizing the APIs.

Internet video traffic delivered to TV devices does not pass through theMDMS 110, but utilizes the direct streaming services, protocols, codecsand networking paths from the content owners to the TV devices. Whilethese services, protocols, codecs and the networks utilized are commonto Internet video streaming to PCs, TV receivers may only be capable ofprocessing a subset of these protocols and codecs.

Likewise, broadcast content delivered to TV devices does not passthrough the MDMS 110 either, but is subject to broadcasting protocolsand transmission paths common to broadcast of TV signals to TV devicesover suitable media (e.g. Satellite, Antenna, and Cable).

Using the MDMS 110, content owners and media aggregators (i.e. partieswho aggregate syndicated web content such as news headlines, weblogs(blogs), podcasts, vlogs (video blogs) in a single proposition) canregister and manage their services and content for discovery and use bycontent receivers 108 configured to receive content made availablethrough the MDMS 110. Content owners can also configure additionalproducts and services via the MDMS 110 such as content subscriptions andpromotions and their content owner branding and interactive options arepreserved across all devices wherever their content is displayed.

A content receiver user having content stored on their own local contentdomain may also be able to register and manage content stored on thatlocal content domain using the MDMS 110, and for discovery and use usingtheir content receiver. In this case, the content receiver user iseffectively another content owner.

The MDMS 110 implements a range of functions, namely:

-   1) The registration of Internet video sources and libraries to    enable the search, discovery, navigation and playing of content on    multiple TV device types;-   2) The registration of interactive destinations and TV applications    to enable their search, discovery, navigation and access on multiple    types of TV device;-   3) The management of content branding, media searches,    recommendations, interactive links and promotions for content owners    (including advertising and sponsorships) such that the correct    branding and facilities are displayed to the viewer whenever their    content is being accessed, across multiple types of TV device—this    capability is common to TV broadcasters, Internet video aggregators,    and interactive application owners;-   4) The registration of “users”—such as TV viewers, and the    management of their personalization information, such that a    viewer's identity and personalization information is available    across multiple types of TV device;-   5) The provision of a range of content discovery services, such as:    -   i) Centralized search across all content;    -   ii) Content recommendations;    -   iii) Content sharing between community members;    -   iv) Content promotion for content owners    -   v) Resolution of TV Keys™-   6) The implementation of distribution arrangements and rights    restrictions for content owners, particularly the enforcement of    territory rights restrictions.-   7) Centralized subscription payments services and micro billing    (billing for individual content items) for all content owners;-   8) Advertising services which may comprise a range of products, for    example:    -   i) “click through” advertising links to video or interactive        destinations;    -   ii) Insertion of video advertising in playlists and video        content consumption;    -   iii) Interfacing to standard 3rd party Internet ad serving        infrastructures and campaign management and sales facilities;        and    -   iv) The provision of viewer targeting data to 3rd party ad        serving engines.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the MDMS 110 and components thereofaccording to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

The MDMS 110 includes a network interface 112 providing a route throughwhich the MDMS 110 is coupled to the communications network 104. TheMDMS 110 communicates with the content sources and content receiversover the communications network 104 via the network interface. Contentreceived at the MDMS 110 from the content sources may include, forexample, content metadata to feed a search and retrieval module (e.g.Web feeds such as RSS XML feeds), content owner branding data forapplication to content to be displayed, other content owner rulesrelating to display and consumption of their content.

A configuration module 114 of the MDMS 110 is configured to provide ameans for content owners to register and manage their content. Theconfiguration module 114 comprises a processor and a data storagemodule.

The configuration module 114 also provides a means by which contentreceiver manufacturers, i.e. OEM manufacturers, can specify how data andinformation should be displayed when the system of the invention isimplemented using their specific content receivers. An identity servicesmodule 124 (described in more detail later) provides a means by whichend-users' (i.e. viewers using a content receiver implementing thesystem of the present invention) presentation preferences describing howdata and information should be displayed on their content receivers arestored, e.g. personalizing how menus appear when displayed via theircontent receivers.

A content manager 116 (described in more detail later) is operative tocombine the configurations and preferences specified by the above threedifferent parties.

When initially registering their content with the MDMS 110 to make suchcontent available to viewers having content receivers configured toreceive such content via the MDMS 110, content owners conduct a set-upprocess using the configuration module 114. This set-up process may beconducted by the content owner, perhaps at a remote location, by way ofa content owner terminal, for example, a PC, arranged to communicatewith the configuration module 114 via the communications network 104 andnetwork interface 112.

In an example, the content owner could use the PC to navigate to aspecific web-page to initiate the set-up process. The configurationmodule 114, upon receiving a request for the web-page data from the PC,transmits the relevant web-page data to the PC of the content owner toallow the content owner to conduct the set-up process. The content owneris presented with a content owner interface which displays a number offunctions relating to how it wishes to configure its content. In thisregard, the content owner can define:

-   -   Its MediaRSS feeds and associated parameters that will be        retrieved by the content indexer 118. This is so that the        content owner's content items can be presented to a user in        search results and recommendations when they are relevant to the        search or recommendation being performed by the MDMS 110.    -   Content item presentation information such as their branding    -   The categories of content they support e.g. general video, news        etc.    -   Content subscription packages and pricing and the rules used to        identify the content items that belong to each subscription        package.    -   Distribution arrangements such as the OEMs or service providers        (collectively termed operators) on whose content receivers their        content is to be made available and/or in which territories        their content can be made available.

The content owner may also wish to configure a content menu applicationto be made available to the viewer when the viewer is consuming contentfrom that content owner. Again, this content menu registration optionmay be specified during the initial set-up process or at a later time.The content menu registration option also provides the content ownerwith the ability to configure specific menu items which access servicesof the MDMS such as: a search application which allows a viewer tosearch only within content of that content owner; a contentrecommendations application which provides a viewer with recommendationsfrom the content of that content owner; quasi-channel applications inwhich themed content from that content owner is arranged into suchquasi-channels either statically or dynamically using pre-definedsearches and recommendations which can then be performed without datainput from the end viewer; and an advertising application whereby spaceon the content menu of that content owner can be sold for advertising orcan be used to promote specific content from that content owner with theability to click through the advertising to a piece of content or aninteractive destination.

The content owner indicates that the content is configured as theyrequire it to be using the content owner interface of the web-pagedisplayed at their terminal and, upon such indication; the terminaltransmits this configuration parameters data via the communicationsnetwork 104 and network interface 112 to the configuration module 114.Upon receipt of the data, the configuration module 114 sends aconfirmation to the content owner terminal that the configurationparameters data has been received and stores the configurationparameters data within its data storage module.

Although described from the viewpoint of a content owner specifyingtheir requirements, a service provider and/or an OEM could specify theirown branding and presentation requirements and menus using the sameinterface, though the options available for configuration may bedifferent for these different roles.

The data storage module of the configuration module 114 is configured tomaintain a database of the content configuration parameters data forretrieval by a content manager 116 which can subsequently apply thecontent configuration parameters data to content to be transmitted tocontent receivers.

The MDMS 110 is arranged to retrieve the content metadata configured bythe content owners to enable the provision of content search andrecommendations to content receivers. The content metadata is retrievedover the communications network by the content indexer 118, optionallyas a media RSS XML feed. The content indexer 118 retrieves the contentowner feed configurations from the content owner configuration 114,retrieving and processing the content owner feeds as specified. Thecontent indexer 118 augments the metadata retrieved from the contentowner with derived data using MDMS rules (such as the appropriate MDMSquality classification and the protocols and codecs implied by the oneor more content references) and data derived using the relevant contentowner configuration retrieved from the content owner configuration 114(such as the presentation information, distribution networks andterritories and the subscription packages that each content item isassociated). The XML metadata for each content item is then passed to asearch and retrieval module 120 which indexes and stores the contentmetadata data in its associated storage.

The received content metadata includes data (e.g. a URL) identifying alocation at the content source of the actual content instances to whichit relates (with each content instance being associated with a differentprotocol/codec/bandwidth combination) and thus the search and retrievalmodule 120 maintains a list of content references for each content itemregistered by content owners.

A search and recommendations module 122 is arranged as an access layerto the search and retrieval module 120. This exposes a straightforwardXML based services API to the content manager 116 for each of theservice requests the content manager 116 requires and implements each ofthese requests utilizing one or more of the proprietary APIs andservices provided by the search and retrieval module 120.

The MDMS 110 further comprises an identity services module 124comprising a processor and a user identity storage module. The useridentity storage module of the identity services module 124 isconfigured to store data relating to identities corresponding todifferent users of a content receiver, e.g. an identity for eachindividual member of a household. This module provides a user profiledata model to be associated with the identities which may comprise:

-   -   nickname    -   personal details including a unique mobile number and/or email        address    -   viewing and content preferences including PIN protection        settings    -   content receivers that this profile is associated with    -   purchased subscriptions and content items    -   content item history    -   content item ratings    -   content item bookmarks and playlist tags

Various user actions on the content receiver initiate communication withthe identity service module 124 some of which result in the currentuser's profile being updated by the identity services module 124.Examples of these communications include: editing and saving userdetails and preferences, viewing bookmarks, bookmarking a content item,rating a content item, viewing a content item etc. A default identity ofa content receiver may be tied to a unique identifier of the contentreceiver itself which is used when no individual identity has beenidentified. This default identity may be associated with the subscriberdetails where the content receiver has been provisioned by a serviceprovider.

With this arrangement, profile information of users (including, forexample, feedback from their consumption of content) can be used toimprove targeting and particularly recommendations of content tospecific users. This is achieved by the identity services module 124creating user profiles in the search and retrieval module 120 andpopulating these with the content items consumed by each user profile.The search and retrieval module can then make consumption informed userrecommendations when requested by the search and recommendations module122.

In response to reception at the MDMS 110 of an instruction from acontent receiver to switch user (such instruction invoked by a useraction in relation to the content receiver, i.e. selection of a userassociated with the content receiver and optionally the entering of apersonal identification number (PIN) code, e.g. via a remote control),the instruction, user identifier, receiver identifier and optional PINare delivered to the identity services module 124 via network interface112. The identity services module 124 retrieves the relevant user'sprofile data from its storage module, checks the PIN if required and, ifsuccessful, records the new user as the current user for this contentreceiver in its storage module and generates and returns to the contentreceiver the user menu appropriate for this user on this contentreceiver. This new user menu may result in additional requests from thecontent receiver to the content manager 116 to populate content items(such as the user content recommendations).

When a user of a content receiver wishes to search for specific contentand initiates a search via their content receiver to search for suchspecific content, a search request is received by the network interface112 via the communications network 104 for the content receiver anddelivered to the content manager 116. The content manager 116 thenconstructs the search query adding a number of additional constraints tothe search that are derived from the capabilities and attributes of thecontent receiver. In particular the content receiver may provide thecontent receiver identifier, type and operator as part of the searchrequest and the source IP address can be determined from the TCP/IPnetworking protocols. These are passed to the content receiver profiler136 which determines and returns:

-   -   The protocols and codecs supported by this type of content        receiver. This data is configured and stored for each type of        content receiver in the content receiver profiler 136. The        dataset for this type of content receiver is retrieved from this        store.    -   The operator associated with this content receiver.    -   The bandwidth capability of this content receiver's network.        This bandwidth would have been submitted to the content receiver        profiler 136 by the content receiver during an earlier bandwidth        test, typically performed on booting the content receiver and        stored by the content receiver profiler against the content        receiver identifier.    -   The determined territory of the content receiver. This is        derived from the source IP of the content receiver using an IP        to geographical location (in this instance, territory) mapping        table.

The content manager 116 then instructs the search and recommendationsmodule 122 to execute the constructed search query. The search andrecommendations module 122 extracts the search parameter data from therequest in order to address the specific interface of the search andretrieval module 120. The search is then performed by the search andretrieval module 120 as instructed by the search and recommendationsmodule 122 and the metadata of the relevant content items is retrievedand returned to the content manager 116. These search results are thentransmitted to the content receiver from which the search request wasreceived.

The effect of the combination of this constrained search queryimplemented by the content manager 116 against the content metadataaugmented by the content indexer 118 is to ensure that only contentappropriate for and functional on the content receiver is presented tothe user. This process applies to recommendations and other contentrequests.

When a user of a content receiver instigates a search, any contentresults returned to the user may optionally be tailored for that userbased upon the user's profile. Thus, in this case, the content manager116, upon receipt of a content request via the network interface 112adds further constraints to the search query. First it requests the userprofile data related to the current user who requested the search to theidentity services module 124. The identity services module 124 retrievesthe user profile data and returns this to the content manager 116. Thecontent manager 116 amends the search request data to include anyrelevant profile settings (such as safe search i.e. no adult content) asadditional terms in the search query prior to submitting the query tothe search and recommendations module 122. Upon reception of suchamended search request data, the search and recommendations module 122proceeds in the manner described above to retrieve the metadata ofcontent items relevant to the search request and these search resultsare returned to the content manager 116. In addition the content manager116 may augment the content item metadata returned with relevant userspecific metadata such as the user's rating, any user tags, whether ornot the user is already entitled to view the content as part of one oftheir active subscription packages etc. before transmitting the contentmetadata to the user's content receiver. Thus a personalized form ofcontent presentation can be delivered to the user while stillmaintaining the requirements and constraints of other parties (i.e.content owner, etc.).

In some instances a further variation of the above scheme may beutilized, particularly when a user has knowledge of the content itemsbeing displayed (such as their bookmarked content items), where contentitems that are not functional on the device are still returned in theresults but have their content item metadata further augmented toindicate that they are non-functional content items. This avoids theuser thinking that the system has lost content items that they are awareof if they move between content receivers with different capabilities.

The MDMS 110 offers a range of functions to a user of a content receiverwhich might include, for example: video search and recommendations;interacting with content provider menus; registering new profiles(individual identities); administering payment instruments and billing,transactions and payments authorization; managing favorites, playlistsand history; interacting with messages and other users; and setting upuser preferences and options.

A display format for display of the content owner specified and/orpersonalised form of content on a display screen is delivered to acontent receiver from the content manager 116 via network interface 112and communications network 104. This display format is controlled by thecontent manager 116 based upon the content configuration parameters datastored in the data storage module of the configuration module 114 and/orthe user profile data stored for the current user in the storage moduleof the identity services 124

The display format is delivered in markup which describes how to displaythe required functionality of the user interface either via a graphicalmenu on the TV screen or via a browser application on the contentreceiver or a third party interactive TV engine.

Communication between the content receiver 108 and MDMS 110 takes placevia the content receiver services module 126 which is arranged toservice requests from the content receiver 108, enforce security andaccess controls for protected premium content and may compile XMLcontent responses into a binary representation of XML for efficientcommunications and processing on the content receiver.

The content receiver services module 126 comprises the followingmodules: content manager 116 (as hereinbefore described); identityservices module 124 (also hereinbefore described); content enforcementmodule 128; payment services module 130; and image transcoder 132.

The content enforcement module 128 is the element of the contentreceiver services module 126 configured to gate and authorize theplaying of protected (e.g. premium or restricted) content. The contentenforcement module 128 operates in conjunction with a payment servicesmodule 130, subscription management module 134, the identity services124 and the content receiver profiler. Such enforcement is implementedby checking territory restrictions, subscription entitlements, informingthe user of any gating actions required (e.g. PIN entry required,purchase required, etc.) and requesting authorized content URLs fromcontent owners to provide a content receiver access to a content item.In this regard, a request for a content URL is sent from the contentreceiver and received at the MDMS 110 via the network interface andforwarded to the content enforcement module 128. The content enforcementmodule 128 first makes a request to the search and retrieval module 120for content metadata relating to the content item which the user hasrequested. The processor of the search and retrieval module 120retrieves the content metadata from the data storage module of thesearch and retrieval module 120 and returns the retrieved contentmetadata to the content enforcement module 128. If the content item isidentified as a premium content item the content enforcement module 128requests the current user's subscription entitlements from thesubscription management module 134. The subscription management module134 retrieves and returns the user's active subscription entitlements tothe content enforcement module 128 and the content enforcement module128 checks these against the content item subscription packages todetermine if the user is entitled to view the content item. If thecontent item is identified as being restricted by territory the contentenforcement module 128 requests the content receiver's territory fromthe content receiver profiler 136 and checks if the content receiver isentitled to access the content item. Finally the content item is checkedto see if it is marked as restricted.

If all conditions are met and the user is eligible to view the content,the URL of the content item is transmitted by the content enforcementmodule 128, via the network interface 112, to the content receiver. Uponreception of the content URL the content receiver can then retrieve andplay the requested content item from the content owner's content source.Optionally the content enforcement module 128 may request a contentaccess authorization token from the content owner which is transmittedto the content receiver and used by the content receiver when retrievingthe content item. This enables the content owner to restrict access totheir content to trusted MDMS content receivers.

If, as a result of a determination by the content enforcement module128, the content requested by a user cannot be viewed by that user thenthe content enforcement module 128 transmits, via the network interface112, to the content receiver one of a number of response conditions:

-   -   Subscription required with the subscription offers. The offers        are presented and if one selected a payment process is initiated        by the content receiver against the payment services module 130.        On completion of this process the content URL is re-requested        from the content enforcement module 128.    -   PIN required. The PIN is then submitted with a re-request for        the content URL which is checked by the identity services module        124 before the content URL is returned.    -   Unauthorized content. Access to the content is denied.

When a payment process is initiated against the payment services module130 the content receiver issues a request to the payment services module130 which returns for payment details to the content receiver. Thiscauses the content receiver to effect display of a payment detailsrequest message on an associated display device. In response to themessage a user may have the options of rejecting the request for paymentdetails or accepting the request. If the request is accepted, the useris prompted to center appropriate payment details which are returned tothe payment services module 130 via the communications network 104 andnetwork interface 112. As will be appreciated, the user commands inresponse to the payment details request may be entered via a userinterface device, such as a remote control, of the content receiver.

When payment details data is received, confirmed and successfullyprocessed by the payment services module 130, it transfers thesubscription purchased to the subscription management module 134 whereit is stored against the current user in the associated subscriptionstorage module. The subscription management 134 also forwards thisinformation to the identity services module 124 to update the userprofile data relating to that user to include the subscription packageupgrade.

Image transcoder 132 is configured to re-encode images stored instandard web formats (e.g. portable network graphics (PNG), JPEG) to aformat supported by any given content receiver. Thus, when image data istransmitted to a content receiver, the image transcoder 132 ensures thatsuch images are supported for display by that content receiver. Thecontent receiver informs the image transcoder the source image URL andwhat image format it requires. The image transcoder 132 retrieves thesource image URL over the network interface 112 and then transcodes theimage into one of the required formats before transmitting thetranscoded image to the content receiver.

MDMS 110 also comprises an advertisement management module 137 which isconfigured to receive advertisement management campaign metadata fromone or more advertisers. The metadata includes locators (e.g. URLs) ofone or more repositories of advertisers containing replacementadvertisement content items. The advertisement management module 137performs a matching process (discussed further below), to determinereplacement advertisements likely to be of interest to a user currentlylogged on to the content receiver. The locators of these replacementadvertisements determined during the matching process are forwarded tothe network interface 112 for transmission via the communicationsnetwork 104 to the content receiver.

The locators received at the content receiver are transferred to theCPU, upon which is implemented an advertisement break module (see FIG.4). The advertisement break module includes a replacement advertisementacquisition module (described in more detail in relation to FIG. 5)which sends requests containing the locators to the one or morerepositories of the advertisers for retrieval of correspondingreplacement advertisements. In response to such requests, the one ormore advertisers' systems retrieve the requested replacementadvertisements and forward them to the content receiver. Thesereplacement advertisements are stored in the content receiver forretrieval to be inserted in place of original advertisement contentitems in a broadcast video content item received at the content receiversuch that the video output from the content receiver containsreplacement advertisement content items in place of the originaladvertisement content items in an advertisement. Thus, when the videooutput of the content receiver is displayed, the replacementadvertisement content items are seen during an advertisement break inthe broadcast video content item instead of the original advertisements.

The identity services module 124 contains pertinent information (e.g.preferences, age, etc.) about one or more users of a particular contentreceiver. The advertisement management module 137 performs a matchingprocess to locate advertisement content items which are likely to be ofinterest to the one or more users, based upon their profiles stored inthe identity services module 124. The advertisement management module137 can manage a number of advertisement campaigns with metadata whichmay comprise, for example, demographic criteria, cost of display, budgetand asset reference.

The matching process may compare metadata of advertisement content itemswith the user profile information to determine those advertisementcontent items which are most relevant to a particular user. When theprocess is complete, the advertisement management module 137 sends arequest over the communications network 104, via network interface 112,to the content receiver indicating the advertisement content items to beretrieved by the content receiver. These advertisement content items canbe retrieved from the content source by the content receiver.

In an optional arrangement, one or more advertisement content items areretrieved from respective repositories of content sources of advertisersand returned to the advertisement management module 137 via thecommunications network. These received one or more advertisement contentitems either may be stored within a storage device of the advertisementmanagement module 137 for retrieval therefrom by the content receiverfrom the advertising management module 137.

The matching process algorithm implemented by the advertisementmanagement module 137 may be without limitation, for example, aDoubleclick® algorithm, or a 24/7 Real Media algorithm.

Replacement advertisement content items received at the content receiverare inserted by the content receiver into an advertisement break of abroadcast content item received at the content receiver in place oforiginal advertisement content items in the advertisement break. Thecontent receiver comprises functions (which will be discussed in moredetail later) which allow a user to instruct the content receiver to“skip” from one replacement advertisement content item to another. Ifthe user instructs the content receiver to skip display of a replacementadvertisement content item in such a manner, display of that replacementadvertisement content item will be halted and another replacementadvertisement is displayed.

Whether or not a user views a replacement advertisement content item orskips such a content item is of value to advertisers because it providesa measure of the success of an advertisement in an advertisementcampaign. Therefore, the content receiver compiles feedback reports foreach replacement advertisement content item in a playlist to indicate ifthat content item has been: displayed and viewed in full (i.e. a skip orfast forward function has not been activated whilst that content item isdisplayed); displayed and skipped; or not shown (e.g. the end of theadvertisement break was reached before the content item could be shown).The advertisement break module of the content receiver comprises areplacement advertisement monitoring module to monitor any user inputsto the content receiver during display of the replacement advertisementcontent items and prepares the feedback report mentioned above. Theprocess by which the replacement advertisement monitoring moduleachieves this is described in more detail in relation to FIG. 5.

When a feedback report has been compiled, this is passed to a networkinterface of the content receiver (see FIG. 4) and forwarded to the MDMS110 via communications network 104. The received feedback report istransferred to the advertisement management module 137 which notes thereport for each replacement advertisement content item. This report canbe supplied to advertisers on a periodic basis.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a content receiver 108, componentsthereof and components related thereto. The content receiver 108receives content via the communications network 104 and broadcast videodistribution network 106 and can transmit data to the MDMS 110 viacommunications network 104. Whilst data paths are illustrated betweensome elements of the content receiver 108, not all data paths areillustrated for the purposes of clarity.

The content receiver 108 comprises a hardware components layer 138, anOS, drivers and middleware layer 139 and a software applications layer140. Applications in the OS, drivers and middleware layer 139 andsoftware applications layer 140 are arranged to run on a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 141 of the content receiver 108.

Along with CPU 141, the hardware layer 138 comprises a distributionreceiver 142, a network interface 146, a demultiplexer 1420, a videodecoder 143, an audio processor 1430, a graphics processor 144, acontent output module 145, a memory component (RAM) 147, an inputreceiver 150, and disk storage 163. Disk storage 163 includes areplacement advertisement address database 164 and a replacementadvertisement database 1631.

The distribution receiver 142 (such as a tuner for receiving aterrestrial digital television broadcast) receives content at thecontent receiver 108 from the broadcast video distribution network 106in the form of, e.g. an MPEG 2 transport stream. This transport streamis transferred to demultiplexer 1420 which extracts a data portion ofthe transport stream and forwards the data portion to the CPU 141 which,in conjunction with an electronic program guide application (EPG) 148running thereon, processes EPG data for use by the EPG application.

A video portion of the received content from the broadcast videodistribution network 106 is extracted by the demultiplexer andtransferred to the video decoder 143. The video decoder 143 preparesvideo content for output on the content display 149 by the contentoutput module 145. The content output module 145 overlays any graphicoutput required by any of the software applications identified in thesoftware applications layer 140 as output by the graphics processor 144under instruction from the CPU 141 over the video content and outputsthe combined output to the content display.

An audio portion of the received content from the broadcast videodistribution network 106 is extracted by the demultiplexer andtransferred to the audio processor. The audio processor 1430 processesthe audio content and outputs to the content display 149.

Output protocols supported by the hardware of the content receiver 108may comprise one or more of: High Definition Multimedia Interface(HDMI); Component Video; SCART; Composite Video and audio outputs suchas Dolby Digital and stereo analogue.

The OS, drivers and middleware layer 139 comprises a graphics layermodule 151, a networking services module 152, an audio services module153, a personal video recorder (PVR) sub-system module 154, a digitalvideo broadcasting (DVB) stack module (155), a storage services module156, a system services module 157, and an operating system application161 and drivers 162. These modules are conventional features on manycontent receivers (such as set-top boxes). Further description of thesemodules will therefore only be provided where necessary in relation tothe functioning of one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Input receiver 150 is arranged to receive commands for controlling thecontent receiver 108, such commands being input by a user by way of aninput device 158. The commands may be entered using, for example, aset-top box remote control device through which commands are entered bythe user by pressing specific keys of the remote control device. Acontrol signal from the remote control is transmitted to the contentreceiver 108 by any suitable means, e.g. infra-red transmission.

The software applications layer 140 of the content receiver 108comprises: an EPG module 148 (referred to above); a browser application159; and a media display management module application (MDMM) 160.

Although a browser application is shown in the illustrated embodiment,other suitable interactive display engines may be used, e.g. a flashengine such as Adobe® flash engine.

The MDMM 160 runs on the CPU 141 and configures the CPU 141 forcommunication (via network interface 146) with the MDMS 110 in order tomanage content received at the content receiver 108 over thecommunications network 104. Commands input by a user requesting deliveryof a content item to the content receiver 108 are received at the inputreceiver 150 and communicated to CPU 141 which implements the MDMM 160to request content data appropriate to the command from the MDMS 110.

Where the CPU 141 instructs the video decoder 143 and audio processor1430 to process video received over the communications network 104 viathe network interface 146 this will be buffered by the CPU 141 in RAM147 and then the video and audio portions will be retrieved by the videodecoder 143 and audio processor 1430 using direct memory access (DMA) inthe same manner as when the video was received over the broadcast videodistribution network 106 via the distribution receiver 142.

CPU 141 also implements MDMM 160 to manage and control content receivedat the content receiver 108 over the broadcast video distributionnetwork 106.

The one or more replacement advertisement content items identifiedduring the matching process as discussed above in relation to FIG. 3 areretrieved by the content receiver from repositories of advertisers. Thecontent receiver 108 forwards locators with each request to enablesystems at the content sources to locate the replacement advertisementcontent items. Once such items are located, the systems at the contentsources forward the items to the content receiver 108 where they arereceived at the network interface 146 of the content receiver 108 viacommunications network 104. These one or more replacement advertisementcontent items are transferred to a replacement advertisement database1631 which comprises a portion of disk storage 163.

In more detail, on initial registration of the content receiver withMDMS 110 (a process which creates a default user) or the adding of a newuser, a list of replacement advertisements which “match” that user'sprofile is created by the advertisement management module 137. Locatorsof the replacement advertisements in that Jist, and additional metadatadescribing the attributes/constraints associated with each replacementadvertisement, are provided to the content receiver 108. Upon receipt atthe content receiver 108, the locators are stored in replacementadvertisement address database 164. An advertisement acquisition moduleof the content receiver sends requests to repositories of theadvertisers denoted by the locators for retrieval of replacementadvertisement content items. These items are communicated via thecommunications network to the content receiver where, upon receipt, theyare transferred to the replacement advertisement database 1631 forstorage and each of the locators stored in the replacement advertisementaddress database 164 is replaced with the local address of acorresponding replacement advertisement content item on the replacementadvertisement database 1631. That is, the replacement advertisementaddress database 164 stores the addresses where each replacementadvertisement content item is stored in the replacement advertisementdatabase 1631.

The replacement advertisement content items stored in the replacementadvertisement database 1631 may be flagged with restrictions, such as:how many times an advertisement can be shown during the same TV program;how many times an advertisement can be shown per unit of time, forexample, per hour; if an advertisement can only be shown after a certaintime (e.g. 9 pm) because it contains adult content; and may also beflagged with an expiry date. For example, an advertisement campaign maybe scheduled to end on a particular date, and the advertiser will notwant a replacement advertisement relating to that campaign to air afterthat date. Therefore, an expiry date flag provided as, for example,meta-data relating to that replacement advertisement, will be noted by areplacement advertisement playlist compilation engine (described indetail later), and that advertisement will not be added to a playlist.An example of the data stored in the replacement advertisement database1631 is illustrated in FIG. 6.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the replacement advertisement database1631 needs to be replenished over time as advertisements expire, andalso simply to avoid over-repetition of the same replacementadvertisements. Replacement advertisements may be retrieved in thebackground of normal operation of the content receiver as availablebandwidth allows, such as idle periods, or periods where the contentreceiver is in “stand-by” mode.

The description hereafter assumes that a number of replacementadvertisement content items have been “uploaded”, in the mannerdescribed above, to the replacement advertisement database 1631 of thecontent receiver and are stored thereon.

One or more replacement advertisement content items can be retrievedfrom replacement advertisement database 1631 of disk storage 163 asrequired to construct a playlist of replacement advertisement contentitems for insertion into a received broadcast video content item.Retrieval, construction and insertion of the playlist of replacementadvertisement content items into the received broadcast video contentitem will be described in more detail later.

DVB stack 155 comprises a series of modules operative to drive the TVsystem of the content receiver. Such a feature is known in conventionalcontent receivers (e.g. set-top boxes) and known manufacturers are, forexample, OpenTV, NDS, or Direct TV.

The DVB stack 155 is configured to detect a signal in a receivedbroadcast video content item indicating that an advertisement break isdue to commence. The DVB stack 155 forwards a first notification signalto the CPU 141 that such a signal has been detected. Upon receipt ofsuch first notification signal at the CPU, an advertisement break module1630, running on the CPU 141, instructs the CPU 141 to retrieve the oneor more replacement advertisement content items from the replacementadvertisement database 1631 of disk storage 163. The replacementadvertisement content items are targeted against a user currentlylogged-in to the content receiver (this will be described in more detailbelow). The advertisement break module 1630 constructs in RAM 147 aplaylist of replacement advertisement content items for insertion intothe advertisement break of the broadcast video content item. Theplaylist comprises a list of local addresses of replacementadvertisement content items to be inserted.

Optionally, the total length of one or more replacement advertisementcontent items in the playlist is equal to the duration of theadvertisement break.

The DVB stack 155 is configured to detect a signal in a receivedbroadcast video content item indicating the start point of anadvertisement. The DVB stack 155 forwards a second notification signalto the CPU 141 that such a signal has been detected. Upon receipt ofsuch second notification signal at the CPU 141, the CPU 141 instructsthe video decoder 143 to stop decoding the broadcast video contentstream and decode the playlist of one or more replacement advertisementcontent items. The advertisement playlist insertion engine 166 instructsthe video decoder 143 to stop decoding the incoming broadcast videocontent stream and instructs the video decoder to perform DMA of thereplacement advertisement database 1631 at a given address of a firstreplacement advertisement content item. Upon receipt of such aninstruction, the video decoder 143 stops decoding the incoming broadcastvideo content stream and the display of a content item in that videocontent stream, and instead invokes the display of a first replacementadvertisement as retrieved from replacement advertisement database 1631.A retrieved replacement advertisement content item is inserted into theadvertisement break of the broadcast video content item received at thecontent receiver 108 at commencement of the advertisement break. Thus,the playlist of one or more replacement advertisement content itemsreplaces one or more original advertisement content items in theadvertisement break in the video output of the content receiver 108.

Again, a detailed description of the process by which the playlist isretrieved, constructed and inserted is provided later.

The content receiver 108 is configured to allow a particular displayedreplacement advertisement content item to be skipped such that anotherstored replacement advertisement content item is displayed in place ofthe current item. Thus, for example, if a user is not interested in areplacement advertisement content item currently being displayed tothem, they can instruct the content receiver to invoke the display ofanother replacement advertisement content item by entering a command tothe content receiver 108 through input device 158.

Such an entered command is received by the input receiver 150 andforwarded to CPU 141. The CPU 141 instructs the video decoder 143 tostop display of the current replacement advertisement content item, andorders the video decoder 143 to invoke display of the next replacementadvertisement content item from the playlist of the one or morereplacement advertisement content items.

Of course, a particular replacement advertisement content item may be ofinterest to the user and may thus be watched in its entirety. In thiscase, when the particular replacement advertisement content itemconcludes, the video output stream continues with the next one of thereplacement advertisement content items of the playlist of one or morestored replacement advertisement content items.

As noted above, it is envisaged that a total duration of all the one ormore replacement advertisement content items stored in disk storage 163is at least equal to the length of the advertisement break into whichthey are to be inserted in place of original advertisement contentitems. However, if, through user entered commands which instruct thecontent receiver to perform skipping of the majority of storedreplacement advertisement content items, it will be appreciated that afinal stored replacement advertisement content item in the playlist isdisplayed and will conclude before conclusion of the advertisementbreak. In such a case, the playlist is repeated from the beginning. Thisarrangement effects display of the replacement advertisement contentitems in a loop or carousel type arrangement.

In an optional arrangement, the content receiver is operative to invokedisplay of a visual prompt on the display means. This visual promptindicates to the user that it is possible to skip to the nextadvertisement content item by pressing, for example, a fast-forwardbutton on the remote control device.

Advertisement break module 1630 will now be described in more detail inrelation to FIG. 5.

In general overview, advertisement break module 1630 comprises areplacement advertisement playlist compilation engine 165, a replacementadvertisement playlist insertion engine 166, a replacement advertisementacquisition module 1632 and a replacement advertisement monitoringmodule 1633. The replacement advertisement acquisition module 1632 andreplacement advertisement playlist compilation engine 165 are operativeto communicate with replacement advertisement address database 164. Thereplacement advertisement acquisition module 1632 is operative tocommunicate with replacement advertisement database 1631 to storereplacement advertisement content items therein which have beenretrieved from content sources, and the replacement advertisementplaylist insertion engine 166 is operative to retrieve replacementadvertisement content items from the replacement advertisement database1631.

One or more locators are requested by the content receiver 108 viacommunications network 104 from the advertisement management module 137of MDMS 110. The one or more locators comprise addresses in advertisers'repositories where replacement advertisement content items are stored,and from where those replacement advertisement content items can beretrieved.

In an optional arrangement, separate requests may be sent to theadvertisement management module 137 for each user of a content receiverfor which there exists a user profile.

Upon receipt of the one or more locators, the replacement advertisementacquisition module 1632, executed on CPU 141, stores these locators inreplacement advertisement address database 164. The replacementadvertisement acquisition module 1632 then sends requests including thelocators to advertisers' content source systems for retrieval ofreplacement advertisement content items. Retrieved replacementadvertisements are transferred to replacement advertisement database1631 for retrieval therefrom at an appropriate time. Each of thelocators stored in the replacement advertisement address database 164 isreplaced with the local address (i.e. the address in the replacementadvertisement database 1631) of the corresponding replacementadvertisement content item.

Replacement advertisement playlist compilation engine 165 compiles aplaylist descriptor (not shown in FIG. 5, but illustrated in FIG. 7 anddescribed in relation thereto) based upon replacement advertisementsstored in the database, and based upon the currently logged-in user. Theplaylist descriptor comprises local addresses (i.e. addresses in thereplacement advertisement database 1631) of the replacementadvertisement content items of the playlist.

As noted above, the playlist descriptor comprises a list of localaddresses (as retrieved from replacement advertisement address database164) of the replacement advertisement database 1631 of disk storage 163where replacement advertisements to form part of the playlist of one ormore replacement advertisements are stored. That is, the playlistdescriptor comprises a list of pointers to locations where replacementadvertisements are stored on the replacement advertisement database1631. The order of addresses in the playlist descriptor corresponds tothe order in which replacement advertisements found at those addresseswill appear in the playlist when compiled. The playlist descriptor linkstogether replacement advertisements into a playlist.

The replacement advertisement playlist insertion engine 166, executed onCPU 141, extracts the addresses from the playlist descriptor (stored inRAM 147) and retrieves a replacement advertisement from each address inthe replacement advertisement database 1631. A retrieved replacementadvertisement is buffered from the replacement advertisement database1631 for insertion into an advertisement break at an appropriate time.

In order to insert a playlist of replacement advertisements into abroadcast video content stream received at the content receiver in placeof original advertisements in the content stream, markers denoting thestart and end of the advertisement break are required. These markers arerequired in the transport stream (such as an MPEG 2 transport stream) ofthe broadcast video content stream. A start marker enables the playlistof replacement advertisements to be inserted at the correct point in thereceived broadcast video content stream, i.e. at the start of theadvertisement break.

In addition to the above start and end markers, a pre-start marker maybe included in the transport stream to allow the content receiver toretrieve the playlist of replacement advertisements in readiness for anapproaching advertisement break. This is to provide for a substantiallyseamless progression of the video output so that a gap in the videooutput stream between a television program and display of the firstreplacement advertisement content item in the video output stream isavoided.

These markers will be discussed in more detail below in relation to FIG.9.

The pre-start marker is extracted from a transport stream received atthe content receiver by the demultiplexer 1420 (see FIG. 4). The arrivalof the pre-start marker is notified to the replacement advertisementplaylist insertion engine 166, executed on CPU 141, which prepares toretrieve the playlist of replacement advertisements. When the startmarker arrives at the content receiver, it is extracted from thetransport stream by the demultiplexer 1420 and the arrival thereof isnotified to replacement advertisement playlist insertion engine 166. Theadvertisement playlist insertion engine 166 instructs the video decoder143 to stop decoding the incoming broadcast video content stream andinstructs the video decoder to perform DMA of the replacementadvertisement database 1631 at a given address of a first replacementadvertisement content item. Upon receipt of such an instruction, thevideo decoder 143 stops decoding the incoming broadcast video contentstream and the display of a content item in that video content stream,and instead invokes the display of a first replacement advertisement inthe playlist as retrieved from replacement advertisement database 1631.

When the first replacement advertisement in the playlist concludes, asecond replacement advertisement in the playlist is displayed, and soon.

Management of return to a broadcast video content item after theadvertisement break will be described in more detail later.

As discussed briefly above, whilst a replacement advertisement contentitem is displayed, a user can instruct the content receiver to skip aremainder of a currently displayed replacement advertisement contentitem. The content receiver invokes display of a different replacementadvertisement content item from the playlist instead.

Such user instructions can be entered via input device 158 (e.g. aremote control) using key-presses of keys on the input device.Therefore, pressing a “skip” or “fast-forward” button on the remotecontrol instructs the content receiver to stop playing a currentreplacement advertisement content item and invoke display of a differentreplacement advertisement content item from the playlist. Optionally,this different replacement advertisement content item may be a nextreplacement advertisement content item in the playlist, or may beselected using a replacement advertisement content item identifierselected from a displayed list of replacement advertisement content itemidentifiers, e.g. a visual representation of the playlist.

The replacement advertisement monitoring module 1633, executed on CPU141, is notified when a replacement advertisement content item isdisplayed. A duration of the replacement advertisement content itemcurrently being displayed is also provided to the replacementadvertisement monitoring module 1633.

The replacement advertisement monitoring module 1633 calculates thenumber of clock signals (not shown) corresponding to a total length ofthe replacement advertisement content item.

The replacement advertisement monitoring module 1633 monitors signalsreceived at the CPU 141 relating to a user input signal received fromthe input device. If a signal for invoking “skip” or “fast-forward” ofthe currently displayed content item is detected, the replacementadvertisement monitoring module 1633 notes the number of clock signalsthat have passed since the replacement advertisement content itemstarted and obtains the number of clock signals between start of displayand the “skip” or “fast-forward” signal. The replacement advertisementmonitoring module 1633 compares this number with the number of clocksignals corresponding to the total length of the replacementadvertisement content item. If the number of clock signals that havepassed since the replacement advertisement content item started is lessthan a threshold percentage (e.g. 95%) of the number of clock signalscorresponding to the total length of the replacement advertisementcontent item, the replacement advertisement monitoring module 1633determines that the replacement advertisement content item has beenhalted before its conclusion.

The replacement advertisement monitoring module 1633 prepares a feedbackreport entry based upon this determination, i.e. that the replacementadvertisement content was not viewed in full due to user invoked skip.The feedback report entry is transferred to disk storage 163. At the endof an advertisement break, the replacement advertisement monitoringmodule 1633 retrieves one or more feedback report entries stored in diskstorage to prepare a feedback report. Upon completion, the report isforwarded to advertisement management module 137 of MDMS 110.

In the case where a replacement advertisement content item is watched infull, the number of clock signals that have passed since the replacementadvertisement content item started is greater than the percentagethreshold of the number of clock signals corresponding to the totallength of the replacement advertisement content item. The replacementadvertisement monitoring module 1633 determines that the replacementadvertisement content item has been viewed in full and prepares afeedback report entry on this basis.

The replacement advertisement monitoring module 1633, aside frommonitoring to see if one or more of the replacement advertisementcontent items inserted in the broadcast feed are skipped, is alsooperative to monitor which ads are shown. This monitoring data is usedto update replacement advertisement content item data sets in thereplacement advertisement database 1631 for each replacementadvertisement content item to indicate when a replacement advertisementcontent item was last shown. Thus, when another playlist is compiled,the rules applied by the replacement advertisement playlist compilationengine 165 may prevent the replacement advertisement content item toform part of the playlist for the next ad break, i.e. to prevent thesame replacement advertisement content item being shown in a nextadvertisement break if it was shown in the previous advertisement break(if so specified by the rules).

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates data stored in the replacementadvertisement database 1631. The data stored comprises a content item“data set” for each replacement advertisement content item stored in thereplacement advertisement database 1631.

Data 700 is stored at a plurality of addresses 702 of the replacementadvertisement database 1631 and each data set comprises: a replacementadvertisement content item (e.g. in MPEG format); a replacementadvertisement identification (ID) number; data indicating an externaladdress where from where the replacement advertisement content item canbe retrieved (e.g. as a URI); data indicating a local address on thereplacement advertisement database where the replacement advertisementcontent item is stored; data indicating the date and time when thatreplacement advertisement content item was last shown; data indicating aminimum time between a time when the advertisement is displayed, and thenext time the advertisement can be included in a playlist, i.e. once theadvertisement is displayed, it cannot be included in a playlist for,e.g. at least one hour; any broadcast restrictions relating to thatreplacement advertisement content item (i.e. it contains adult contentand can only be shown after 9 pm); data indicating to which users of thecontent receiver the advertisement can be shown; an expiry date of thatreplacement advertisement content item; a duration of the replacementadvertisement content item; and display data for the replacementadvertisement content item.

As described above, the replacement advertisement monitoring module 1633monitors which replacement advertisement content items are included inplaylists and/or shown. Data obtained from such a monitoring process isused to update a data set for a particular replacement advertisementcontent item.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, “Ad. 1” was uploaded from externaladdress URI 1 and is stored at local address 1 of the replacementadvertisement database 1631. It has never been included in a playlist,and at least two hours must elapse between one showing of thisadvertisement and the inclusion of the advertisement in a playlist for apotential next showing.

The advertisement can only be displayed between the hours of 21:00 and04:00. The advertisement should be included in playlists when User “ID1” is logged-on to the content receiver. It should not be included inplaylists after 28 Sep. 2010 because it expires on that date.

“Ad 4” of FIG. 6 is applicable to two users. As illustrated, thisreplacement advertisement content item can be included in playlists forboth User “ID 1” and User “ID 3”. This particular replacementadvertisement content item was last shown on 14 Apr. 2010 at 13:01 hourswhen User “10 1” was logged-on at the content receiver. It has not beenshown to User “ID3”.

“Ad 2” of FIG. 6 is not yet stored on the replacement advertisementdatabase 1631. This is evident because a local address is not indicatedfor this replacement advertisement content item. It must be retrieved inthe manner described previously and then stored on the replacementadvertisement database 1631. Once it has been stored, the local addressfield for this replacement advertisement content item will be updatedwith a local address and it will be available for inclusion in areplacement advertisement playlist for User “ID2”.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a playlist descriptor 167 whichcomprises a list of addresses of replacement advertisements (appropriateto a particular user) stored on the replacement advertisement database1631 of content receiver. The playlist descriptor 167 contains one ormore replacement advertisement data fields 172. These one or morereplacement advertisement data fields 172 each comprise an address wherea replacement advertisement is stored on the replacement advertisementdatabase 1631 and an indication as to where in the playlist thereplacement advertisement should be placed.

The playlist descriptor 167 illustrated in FIG. 7 is compiled byextracting one or more replacement content items from the replacementadvertisement database 1631: such replacement advertisement contentitems being illustrated in FIG. 6 and as described above. The extractionprocess is performed by the replacement advertisement playlistcompilation engine 165 which queries the replacement advertisement localaddress database 164. The replacement advertisement playlist compilationengine 165 enforces the rules/restrictions detailed in FIG. 6 to ensurethat only appropriate advertisements for the current user and/or timeare included in the playlist descriptor 167. The playlist descriptor 167illustrated in FIG. 7 is an example of a particular playlist for aparticular user at a particular point in time.

The replacement advertisement data fields 172 may also include otherinformation such a, for example, replacement advertisement content itemduration, and display data (e.g. the display data may comprisemeta-data, and may include information regarding the advertisement titleand/or a brief synopsis of the advertisement and/or a “thumbnail” imageof a frame from the advertisement). This display data could be used inone or more embodiments where a menu displays a list of availableadvertisements for insertion. The display data may be in XML format.

The playlist descriptor 167 may be compiled by the replacementadvertisement playlist compilation engine 165 prior to eachadvertisement break.

Thus, in the illustrated example, a playlist for insertion into anadvertisement break will comprise replacement advertisements 1 to n,where replacement advertisement 1 is stored at address X₁ of thereplacement advertisement database 1631, replacement advertisement 2 isstored at address X₂ of the replacement advertisement database 1631, andreplacement advertisement n is stored at address X_(n) of thereplacement advertisement database 1631.

Thus, a playlist of replacement advertisements appropriate for the usercurrently logged on to the content receiver can be compiled and insertedin an advertisement break based upon the information contained in theplaylist descriptor 167.

A typical video content broadcast stream, as illustrated in FIG. 8, suchas a live television (satellite, terrestrial or cable) broadcast,contains a primary broadcast video content item 174 and one or morebreaks 176 in the primary broadcast video content item 174. A typicalvideo content broadcast stream may comprise an MPEG 2 transport stream.The MPEG 2 transport stream is described in more detail in relation toFIG. 10.

Each of the one or more breaks 176 comprises a specified time window inwhich at least one secondary broadcast video content item is displayed.In a particular example, the primary video content item 174 comprises atelevision program and the one or more breaks 176 comprise anadvertisement break in which one or more secondary broadcast videocontent items, (i.e. advertisement content items) are displayed. In thefigure, the advertisement break contains four advertisement contentitems 176 a, 176 b, 176 c, 176 d.

Transition from the main broadcast video content item 174 to a break 176occurs at a first transition point 178, whilst transition from the break176 back to the main broadcast video content item 174 occurs at secondtransition point 180.

While FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a conventional broadcast videostream, FIG. 9 illustrates a modified broadcast video stream modified bya content source provider (i.e. a broadcaster) to include markers forindicating: the approach of an advertisement break; the start of anadvertisement break; and the end of an advertisement break.

Thus, whilst the main broadcast video content item 174 and theadvertisement break 176 (containing four advertisement content items 176a, 176 b, 176 c, 176 d) are the same as illustrated and described inrelation to FIG. 6, the broadcast video stream also includes a pre-startmarker 182, a start marker 184, and an end marker 186. The pre-startmarker 182 indicates that an advertisement break is approaching, a startmarker 184 indicates the start of the advertisement break, and the endmarker 186 indicates the conclusion of the advertisement break.

FIG. 10 illustrates, in schematic form, an exploded view of an MPEG 2transport packet stream.

MPEG 2 transport packet streams are known and further descriptionthereof will not be provided here.

A packet header of an MPEG 2 transport packet includes a programidentifier (PID) 188. A program map table (PMT) contains informationabout programs and is transmitted via the PID 188. In one or moreembodiments of the present invention, a conventional PMT is modified toinclude an advertisement table entry. The advertisement table entrycomprises a private section of the PMT and includes the following: astart presentation time stamp (PTS) for a packetized elementary stream(PES) packet that contains a start point of the advertisement break; anend PTS for the PES packet that contains a start point of a program thatis about to start/resume, i.e. an end point of the advertisement break.These start PTS and end PTS correspond to the start marker 184 and endmarker 186 of FIG. 9. The advertisement table entry may also includedata indicating the duration of the advertisement break.

The end PTS for the PES packet that contains a start point of a programthat is about to start/resume after an advertisement break provides anotification to the video decoder of the content receiver to ceasedisplay of the playlist of replacement advertisements and resume themain broadcast video content item, i.e. a TV program. However, in anoptional arrangement, to be described in further detail below, this endPTS may be ignored to allow the playlist to be viewed in full. In thiscase, the TV program is recorded to disk storage of the content receiver(if the content receiver, i.e. STB, comprises a PVR) and is resumed whenthe playlist has completed.

The advertisement table entry optionally includes a pre-start PTS forthe PES packet that contains a portion of a program that is about totransfer to an advertisement break. For example, the portion of theprogram may be between 0.5 and 5 seconds.

The advertisement table entry optionally includes a start PTS for a PESpacket containing a start point of an advertisement and an end PTS forthe PES packet containing an end point of the same advertisement. Suchstart and end PTS data may be included for each advertisement in anadvertisement break to allow selective overwriting of individualadvertisements.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sequence diagram showing steps for insertion ofalternative video content, e.g. replacement advertisement content items,into a broadcast stream received at a content receiver to replacecontent items in the stream with replacement content items.

The illustrated example assumes that, during an advertisement break, afirst replacement advertisement content item 238 a is viewed in full,and the second replacement advertisement content item 238 b is curtailedbefore being viewed in full because the user invokes a skip function tochange the display to a third replacement advertisement content item 238c. This third replacement advertisement content item 238 c is viewed infull. The fourth replacement advertisement content item 238 d iscurtailed because it is necessary to interrupt the fourth replacementadvertisement content item 238 d in order to return to a broadcast videocontent item 174, i.e. a TV program.

If, after the display of a replacement advertisement content item, thetime remaining in the advertisement break is such that no meaningfulportion of a further stored replacement advertisement content item canbe displayed, then a short-form advertisement (e.g. 15 seconds or less)or a still image (e.g. JPEG) could be inserted into the video outputstream for display during the remainder of the advertisement break.

A short-form or still image advertisement is supplied as part of theplaylist of replacement advertisement content items.

The description relating to FIG. 11 is made with reference to FIGS. 3 to7, 9 and 10.

When the content receiver initially starts-up, the replacementadvertisement acquisition module on the content receiver sends a request(S190) via the communication network to the MDM8 110 for default useradvertisement content items. The advertisement management modulerequests the default user profile information from the identity servicesmodule (S191) and, in response to such request, the identity servicesmodule retrieves the default user profile information and forwards thisto the advertisement management and storage module (S192). Theadvertisement management module performs a targeting process asdescribed above in relation to FIG. 3 in order to locate replacementadvertisement content items which will be relevant to the default userprofile. The advertisement management module provides replacementadvertisement content item locators (e.g. URL addresses at contentsources) to the content receiver (S194). The advertisement acquisitionmodule then sends requests (S196) for the replacement advertisementcontent items to one or more content sources. The requests include thecontent item locators to enable the content source systems to locate thecontent item in their associated repositories. These one or more contentsources return (S198) the requested replacement advertisement contentitems to the content receiver where such items are stored. The locationsof these stored replacement advertisement content items on the contentreceiver (i.e. local addresses) are stored in the replacementadvertisement database (S200). Replacement advertisement content itemsare subsequently retrieved as described above for insertion into abroadcast video content item.

Until additional user profiles are created or associated with thecontent receiver, the replacement advertisement content items used arethose retrieved against the default profile.

Once additional user profiles have been associated with a contentreceiver, the steps of S190 to S200 are repeated (although not shown inFIG. 10) for each associated user profile, and the replacementadvertisement content items stored in replacement advertisement database1631 include replacement advertisement content items likely to be ofmore relevance to particular users than those replacement advertisementcontent items stored against the default user profile.

The advertisement content items stored in replacement advertisementdatabase 1631 against each user may be updated when a particular profileis activated on the content receiver.

A user input “View TV” instruction (S210) received at the contentreceiver instructs the content receiver to tune to a TV channelindicated in the instruction, and the content receiver receives (S212) abroadcast video content item broadcast on such a TV channel. Thisbroadcast video content item is displayed (S214).

When a pre-start marker is received (S216) at the content receiver, thereplacement advertisement playlist compilation engine queries thereplacement advertising database 1631 and compiles a playlist ofreplacement advertisement content items (S218). These query results,i.e. a compiled playlist of replacement advertisement content items, isforwarded to the replacement advertisement insertion engine.

When a start marker is received (S220) at the content receiver, thecontent receiver ceases to display the received broadcast video contentitem and displays (S222) a first replacement advertisement content item238 a from the playlist.

In the present instance, and as noted above, the user views the firstreplacement advertisement content item 238 a in its entirety. Atcompletion of the first replacement advertisement content item 238 a,the content receiver displays (S224) the second replacementadvertisement content item 238 b. However, the second replacementadvertisement content item is not viewed in full because the userperforms a skip operation (S226) to change the display to the nextreplacement advertisement content item in the playlist sequence. Onreception of such a skip function, the content receiver displays (S228)the third replacement advertisement content item 238 c.

In the illustrated example, and as noted above, the user views the thirdreplacement advertisement content item 238 c in its entirety. Atcompletion of the third replacement advertisement content item 1664 b,the content receiver displays (S230) the fourth replacementadvertisement content item 238 d. However, the fourth replacementadvertisement content item 238 d is not viewed in full because it isinterrupted in order for the displayed video item to return to theprimary broadcast video content item (S234). This return to the primarybroadcast video content item is invoked when content receiver receivesthe end of advertisement marker in the broadcast signal (S232).

The replacement advertisement monitoring module 1633 prepares a feedbackreport comprising entries relating to each replacement advertisementcontent item 238 a to 238 d displayed during the advertisement break.The feedback report identifies which replacement advertisement contentitems of the playlist have been displayed, which of those displayeditems were viewed in full, which of those displayed items were truncateddue to user actions, and which of those displayed items were truncateddue to a need to return to the broadcast video content item (i.e. TVprogram). The content receiver supplies the feedback report to theadvertisement management module of MDMS (S236).

The reports received at the advertisement management module from thecontent receiver may be made available to advertisers to enable them togauge public response to a particular advertisement campaign.

Although in the above described one or more embodiments a finalreplacement advertisement content item is truncated in order to returnto the display of a broadcast video content item, i.e. a televisionprogram, this need not be the case.

In a content receiver which has a program recording capability, ratherthan returning to the display of a television program, a finalreplacement advertisement content item may be displayed in full beforereturning to display of the television program. The recording facilityof the content receiver is arranged to record the television programfrom the end of the advertisement break until instructed to stoprecording. Thus, when the final replacement advertisement content itemconcludes, it is not the live television program which is displayed, buta recorded version of it.

When the final replacement advertisement content item is viewed in full,the content receiver may also offer the user the option of viewing thetelevision program from its current live point, i.e. an initial portionof the television program overlapping with the final replacementadvertisement content item after the end of the original advertisementbreak will be missed, or to watch a recorded version of the televisionprogram as described above.

In the above described one or more embodiments, when an advertisementbreak begins, a playlist of replacement advertisement content items isretrieved from replacement advertisement database 1631 of the contentreceiver and displayed instead of the received broadcast transportstream.

The user can opt to watch the advertisement or skip to the nextadvertisement in the playlist (i.e. instruct the content receiver toinvoke display of the next advertisement in the playlist). This skipfunction can be invoked a number of times and can comprise a skip to thenext/previous advertisement from the one currently being viewed.

The advertisements are arranged in a carousel-like manner. For example,the playlist contains twelve replacement advertisements, and if a skipfunction is performed whilst viewing the twelfth advertisement the nextadvertisement to be displayed will be the first advertisement.

The length of the advertisement break (typically three minutes) ismaintained so that the viewer is returned to the live content at the endof the advertisement break, i.e. the live broadcast video content itemis displayed at conclusion of the advertisement break. This may entailtruncating a final advertisement being viewed before resumption of thelive broadcast video content. For example, if a viewer begins watching a30 second advertisement 20 seconds before the content is due to resume,the final 10 seconds of the advertisement will not be displayed.

In an optional arrangement, the viewer may opt to view the entirety ofthe complete advertisement and return to the primary content item, i.e.the broadcast video content item, either at the Jive point or at a pointin history (this second option would only be available where the contentreceiver comprises a program recording function).

In the above description, decoding and/or insertion of i.e. replacementadvertisement content items is described with regard to video. Ofcourse, the replacement advertisement content items typically includeaudio data. This audio data is decoded and/or inserted in a similarmanner to the video data. Techniques for synchronizing audio and videowhen inserting the replacement advertisement content items will beevident to those skilled in the art.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a visualrepresentation of the playlist of replacement advertisement contentitems may be invoked for display by the content receiver upon receipt ofan instruction from a user. This visual representation of the playlistof replacement advertisement content items comprises a menu having alist of selectable content identifier items.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a screenshot 240 of a screen displayedwhen such a menu feature is invoked by a user. The menu comprises a listof content identifier items comprising links to replacementadvertisement content items in the playlist. The display data for thepopulation of such a menu feature screen is described above in relationto FIGS. 6 and 7. This display data is stored in replacementadvertisement database 1631.

In the illustrated embodiment, the menu contains a title field 242, alist of content identifier items 244, and a cursor 246.

The title field 242 contains text indicating to what the menu relates,i.e. “advertisement entertainment”.

The list of content identifier items 244 comprises a vertical list ofidentifier items relating to the replacement advertisement content itemsavailable for insertion into the advertisement break in place oforiginal advertisement content items as described above. The contentidentifier items 244 provide at least a name of the replacementadvertisement content item (e.g. Title) and serve as links to thereplacement advertisement content item they identify. Thus, if a userselects a particular content identifier item, the replacementadvertisement content item associated with that identifier will bedisplayed using processes in a similar manner as described above.

Cursor 246 comprises a movable indication feature which highlights onecontent identifier item in the list of content identifier items 244. Thecursor is movable vertically from a first position where a first contentidentifier item is highlighted to a second adjacent position where asecond content identifier item is highlighted responsive to user inputvia the input device (e.g. Up/Down keys of a remote control).

When the cursor 246 is located over a content identifier item 244, thehighlighted item may be enlarged (compared with other content identifieritems 244 in the list of content identifier items 244) and/or gain aborder. Additionally, further information relating to the content may bedisplayed within the content identifier item 244 (e.g. Quality (HD/SD),Premium Icon (to indicate that payment is required to view the content),age certificate icon, a content owner logo, content length, and one linesynopsis of content).

The content identifier items 244 may comprise one or more of: imagedata; video data; and text data. The image data may comprise imagesand/or icons in a particular format e.g. JPEG.

The cursor 246 may also comprise a directional indicator to indicate toa user that the list can be navigated using Up/Down arrows of the remotecontrol. If the cursor is positioned over the first item in the listonly a down indicator should be visible and, likewise, if the cursor ispositioned over the last item in the list, only an up indicator shouldbe visible.

However, in an optional arrangement, the list of content identifieritems 244 may be arranged in a carousel manner such that there is nobeginning and no end. In such an arrangement, both the up and downindicators are always visible. If the menu list or carousel is arrangedin a horizontal arrangement then left and right indicators may bedisplayed.

Optionally, when an advertisement break begins, a first replacementadvertisement content item is inserted in place of an originaladvertisement in the broadcast feed.

The user may opt to watch the advertisement or instruct the contentreceiver to invoke display of the above described menu indicating theplaylist of replacement advertisements. The user can select from themenu a desired replacement advertisement for display.

Although in the above described one or more embodiments a finalreplacement advertisement content item is truncated in order to returnto the display of a broadcast video content item, i.e. a televisionprogram, this need not be the case.

In a content receiver which has a program recording capability, ratherthan returning to the display of a television program, a finalreplacement advertisement content item may be displayed in full beforereturning to display of the television program. The recording facilityof the content receiver is arranged to record the television programfrom the end of the advertisement break until instructed to stoprecording. Thus, when the final replacement advertisement content itemconcludes, it is not the live television program which is displayed, buta recorded version of it.

When the final replacement advertisement content item is viewed in full,the content receiver may also offer the user the option of viewing thetelevision program from its current live point, i.e. an initial portionof the television program overlapping with the final replacementadvertisement content item after the end of the original advertisementbreak will be missed, or to watch a recorded version of the televisionprogram as described above.

In the above described one or more embodiments, when an advertisementbreak begins, a playlist of replacement advertisement content items isretrieved from replacement advertisement database 1631 of the contentreceiver and displayed instead of the received broadcast transportstream.

The length of the advertisement break (typically three minutes) ismaintained so that the viewer is returned to the live broadcast videocontent at the end of the advertisement break, i.e. the live broadcastvideo content item is displayed at conclusion of the advertisementbreak. This may entail truncating a final advertisement being viewedbefore resumption of the live broadcast video content. For example, if aviewer begins watching a 30 second advertisement 20 seconds before thecontent is due to resume, the final 10 seconds of the advertisement willnot be displayed.

In an optional arrangement, the viewer may opt to view the entirety ofthe final advertisement and return to the primary content item, i.e. thebroadcast video content item, either at the live point or at a point inhistory (this second option would only be available where the contentreceiver comprises a program recording function).

In one or more embodiments of the invention, one or more contentidentifier items may each include one or more sub-fields. Each one ormore sub-field comprising a link to further content items associatedwith the replacement advertisement content item to which the contentidentifier item in which the sub-field is located relates.

Further content items optionally comprise “long-form” versions of thereplacement advertisement content items in the playlist. Thus, when asub-field link is selected, a long-format version of the replacementadvertisement content item to which the sub-field relates is displayed.

As with the replacement advertisement content items, the further contentitems may be stored on the replacement advertisement database 1631 indisk storage 163 of the content receiver and are accessed therefrom.However, this need not be the case, and the further content items may bestored remotely. In this case, the sub-field link comprises a link tothe remote address where the further content items are stored. Uponselection of such a sub-field link, a request is sent by the contentreceiver to the remote location for retrieval of the selected furthercontent item.

Optionally, a link to a further content item is displayed on screen whena replacement advertisement content item is displayed. Again, this maycomprise a link to a “long-form” version of the replacementadvertisement content item currently being displayed. Selection of thelink invokes display of the further content item. As above, the one ormore further content items may be stored locally and/or remotely.

Optionally, display of a long-form version of a replacementadvertisement content item may be invoked by the content receiver uponreceiving a user instruction entered via input device. This instructionmay be a single key-press of a button on a remote control device.

The above one or more embodiments are to be understood as illustrativeexamples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention areenvisaged as follows.

In an optional arrangement, replacement advertisement content items maybe inserted into breaks in the broadcast content item other thanadvertisement breaks. For example, if transmission of the broadcastcontent item fails and thus no broadcast signal is received at thecontent receiver, replacement advertisement content items couldautomatically be displayed.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the replacementadvertisement database 1631 may comprise a protected portion of diskstorage 163. Only replacement advertisement content items may be storedin this portion of disk storage 163.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution is viatransmission over both a communications network (as either streamingvideo or as a progressive download) and a video distribution network (asbroadcast video). The communications network may be for example theInternet or a local private network, a wireless network, or atelecommunications network such as for example General Packet RadioService (GPRS) or a telecommunications network based on a ThirdGeneration (3G) telecommunications standard such as for example theUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or Code DivisionMultiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) and the distribution receiver receivesthe transmission via a communications network, for example a networkcard, or a broadband modem, or a wireless network card, or atelecommunications receiver such as a GPRS receiver or a receiver basedon a Third Generation (3G) telecommunications standard such as forexample the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UTMS) or CodeDivision Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000).

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distributiontechnique may be via a storage medium for example a hard disc, or anoptical storage medium such as a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or a HighDefinition DVD (HD-DVD) such as a Blue Ray Disc, and the contentreceiver is a device for accessing the storage medium, such as a harddisc or a DVD player or an HD-DVD player.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a user-recorded storage medium, such as a hard disc or a Video HomeSystem (VHS) cassette or for example an optical storage medium such as aDigital Versatile Disc (DVD) or a High Definition DVD (HD-DVD) such as aBlue Ray Disc, and the content receiver is a device for accessing theuser recorded storage medium, such as means for accessing a hard disc ora VHS cassette player or a DVD player or an HD-DVD player.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a user-recorded storage medium that is internal to the contentreceiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a user-recorded storage medium that is external to and coupled withthe content receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a user-recorded storage medium at a remote location and includestransmission to the content receiver via a communications network suchas for example the Internet.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia an analogue broadcast.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a digital broadcast.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia terrestrial television broadcast and the content receiver is aterrestrial television receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia satellite television broadcast and the content receiver is asatellite television receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia cable television broadcast and the content receiver is a cabletelevision receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the content receiver may beconfigured to specify its capabilities to the MDMS, for example, eachtime search request is invoked, and/or when a request for content issent to the MDMS.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content receiver may bea computer, or content stored on a computer on a home network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content receiver may bea mobile device such as for example a portable computer, a mobile phoneor another receiver of Digital Video Broadcast for Handheld devices(DVB-H).

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content display may be avisual display unit such as a computer monitor.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content display may be ascreen embedded in a mobile device.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content navigationmodule may be invoked via the user selection of a menu item displayed bythe video receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content navigationmodule and the browser application may be components of a singlecomputer program.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content navigationmodule may be implemented as dynamically generated content presented bythe content receiver, for example where the dynamically generatedcontent is a web page in a markup language such as for example HypertextMarkup Language (HTML).

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content navigationmodule may be implemented as dynamically generated content presented bythe browser application that is generated by a remote system andtransmitted to the browser application via a communications network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content receiver may beable to render items of content relating to TV applications described ina markup language or other Interactive engine such as for exampleHypertext Markup Language (HTML), TV Markup Language (TVML, or wTVML),Extensible HTML (XHTML), XHTML Basic, CE-HTML or another ExtensibleMarkup Language (XML) based content description.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the browser application maybe able to render content in the form of a video sequence such as forexample a video received via a communications network or a videodistributed via a broadcast method received by the content receiver or avideo stored on a storage medium accessed by the content receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the search functioncomprises a sub-image embedded in content.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the input device may be akeypad on a mobile device, for example a keypad on a mobile phone.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the link to content may be aUniversal Resource Identifier (URI).

In one or more embodiments of the invention the link to content maydirect the content receiver to access content that is for example avideo sequence that is for example received via a communications networkor distributed via a broadcast method or stored on a storage medium, ora TV application capable of being accessed via an interactive contentengine installed on the device.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the links to content may bepaid-for interactive or video advertisements.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content output componentmay be able to present a video sequence decoded by the video decoder inone portion of the video display and graphics produced by programsrunning on the graphics processor in another portion of the display.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content output componentmay be able to present graphics produced by programs running on thegraphics processor that consume the entire display.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content output componentproduces an analogue computer display signal such as a Video GraphicsArray (VGA) signal.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the video output componentproduces a digital display signal such as a Digital Visual Interface(DVI) signal.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the video output componentproduces a high-definition digital display signal such as aHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) signal.

It will be appreciated that the term “playback” is intended to refer tothe display of live video content such as a live sporting event as wellas recorded video content.

It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any oneembodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other featuresdescribed, and may also be used in combination with one or more featuresof any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of theembodiments.

Insofar as embodiments of the invention described above areimplementable, at least in part, using a software-controlledprogrammable processing device such as a general purpose processor orspecial-purposes processor, digital signal processor, microprocessor, orother processing device, data processing apparatus or computer system itwill be appreciated that a computer program for configuring aprogrammable device, apparatus or system to implement the foregoingdescribed methods, apparatus and system is envisaged as an aspect of thepresent invention. The computer program may be embodied as any suitabletype of code, such as source code, object code, compiled code,interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and thelike. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level,low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpretedprogramming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Peri, Matlab, Pascal,Visual BASIC, JAVA, ActiveX, assembly language, machine code, and soforth. A skilled person would readily understand that term “computer” inits most general sense encompasses programmable devices such as referredto above, and data processing apparatus and computer systems.

Suitably, the computer program is stored on a carrier medium in machinereadable form, for example the carrier medium may comprise memory,removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media,writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analogue media, hard disk,floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Company DiskRecordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), optical disk,magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks,various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) subscriber identitymodule, tape, cassette solid-state memory. The computer program may besupplied from a remote source embodied in the communications medium suchas an electronic signal, radio frequency carrier wave or optical carrierwaves. Such carrier media are also envisaged as aspects of the presentinvention.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the invention. This is done merely for convenience andto give a general sense of the invention. This description should beread to include one or at least one and the singular also includes theplural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

The scope of the present disclosure includes any novel feature orcombination of features disclosed therein either explicitly orimplicitly or any generalization thereof irrespective of whether or notit relates to the claimed invention or mitigate against any or all ofthe problems addressed by the present invention. The applicant herebygives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features duringprosecution of this application or of any such further applicationderived therefrom. In particular, with reference to the appended claims,features from dependent claims may be combined with those of theindependent claims and features from respective independent claims maybe combined in any appropriate manner and not merely in specificcombinations enumerated in the claims.

1. A content item receiver module operative for a content item deliverysystem, configured to operate in a first and second mode: the first modeoperative to drive a display apparatus to display a received contentitem; the second mode operative for a specified time window to displayon a display apparatus a plurality of linked content items in thespecified time window, each of the linked content items having aduration less than the specified time window and having a correspondingcontent item identifier, and to respond to a prompt signal to initiate adisplay option to display on the display apparatus of a long formcontent item associated with one of the plurality of linked contentitems, wherein the long form content item having a greater duration thanthe associated linked content item.
 2. A content item receiver moduleaccording to claim 1, further configured to operate in the second modeto concurrently display on the display apparatus all content itemidentifiers for the plurality of linked content items, and toautomatically respond to a prompt signal displayed on the displayapparatus to initiate a display of a menu of one or more displayoptions, the menu comprising a plurality of a content item identifierscorresponding to a plurality of long form content items and a furtherdisplay option; wherein the further display option comprises at leastone further content item identifier corresponding to a further long formcontent item and a yet further display option.
 3. A content itemreceiver module according to claim 2, wherein the one or more of theplurality of long form content items include subject-matter related tothe subject-matter of the associated one or more linked content items ofthe sequence of linked content items.
 4. A content item receiver moduleaccording to claim 3, wherein the included respective subject-matter isrelated to the subject-matter of a respective linked content itemdisplayed on the display apparatus when the prompt signal is initiated.5. A content item receiver module according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay option is associated with one or more linked content items ofthe sequence of linked content items.
 6. A content item receiver moduleaccording to claim 5, further configured to initiate display on thedisplay apparatus of a first linked content item of the sequence oflinked content items responsive to initiation of the specified timewindow.
 7. A content item receiver module according to claim 6, furtherconfigured to be responsive to a user generated prompt signal toinitiate display of the display option.
 8. A content item receivermodule according to claim 6, further configured to be responsive to aprompt signal generated automatically responsive to initiation of thespecified time window.
 9. A content item receiver module according toclaim 1, further configured to initiate the display of the displayoption superimposed over a currently displayed content item.
 10. Acontent item receiver module according to claim 9, further configured topartially transparently superimpose the display option.
 11. A contentitem receiver module according to claim 1, wherein the display optioncomprise an image representative of the display option.
 12. A contentitem receiver module according to claim 1, further configured totruncate a selected long form content item to finish display of theselected long form coincident with a finish of the specified timewindow.
 13. A content item receiver module according to claim 4, furtherconfigured to retrieve the long form content item from a local store.14. A content item receiver module according to claim 4, furtherconfigured to retrieve network location information for the long formcontent item from a local store.
 15. A content item receiver moduleaccording to claim 14, wherein the network location informationcomprises a uniform resource locator (url).
 16. A content item receivermodule according to claim 1, further configured to request and/orreceive the long form content item from a source located on a networkand store the long form content item local to the content item receivermodule.
 17. A content item receiver module according to claim 4, furtherconfigured to request and receive the network location information froma source located on a network and store the network location informationlocal to the content item receiver module.
 18. A content item receivermodule according to claim 2, further comprising prompting a viewer toselect an option to continue display of a selected long form or furtherlong form content item beyond a finish of the specified time window; andin response to user selection, initiating display on the displayapparatus of the long form content item or the further display option.